Golf club measurement device

ABSTRACT

A portable golf club face measurement device, which accurately and quickly measures data regarding, for example, the orientation of the golf club face relative to the shaft and the orientation of the golf club face relative to a point located on the toe of the club, is disclosed herein. The measurement device has a face probe, a retaining arm, at least one gauge, and at least one clamp.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/392,884, filed on Oct. 13, 2010.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device that can be used to measurethe orientation and position of a golf club face. The present inventionparticularly relates to a golf club face measurement device that isportable.

2. Description of the Related Art

Golfers often wish to measure the orientation and/or position of a golfclub face in order to more accurately fit their golf club equipment totheir unique swings, for example. The golf industry has provided manydevices that can be used to measure a golf club face, including thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,546,426, 2,912,762, 2,973,581, 3,631,602,4,094,072, 4,245,392, 4,875,293, 4,977,680, 5,105,550, 6,363,620,6,449,860, 6,508,007, 6,941,670, 7,010,965, and 7,164,473.

One disadvantage of prior art devices is their lack of portability. Manyof these devices are large, heavy, and in many cases permanently orsemi-permanently mounted to a work bench. In addition, many of theseprior art devices are meant to be both a measurement and adjustmenttool. Furthermore, many of these prior art measurement devices provideinformation only about loft and lie. These prior art measurement devicesalso can be very expensive to build and/or purchase. For example, theCoordinate Measurement Machine, or CMM, which is a piece of laboratoryequipment routinely used by golf club manufacturers to measure golf clubgeometry, can cost several hundred thousands of dollars.

Ultimately, the prior art has failed to provide an optimized, portablegolf club measurement device that can be purchased or madeinexpensively.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The measurement device of the present invention mounts easily to anygolf club and reports several parameters that describe an angle orposition of the club face relative to the golf club's shaft. Thisinformation enables the club to be used with impact monitortechnologies, which will allow for correct analysis of the fullorientation of the golf club at impact, both linear and angularcomponents of velocity, and impact location. The measurement device ofthe present invention also identifies where on the golf club reflectivemarkers should be placed for testing. The measurement device of thepresent invention can also be used as a loft or face angle gauge.

One aspect of the present invention is a golf club measurement devicecomprising a face probe, a retaining arm, at least one gauge, and aclamp, wherein the face probe has a through hole and at least two sides,wherein each side has at least one touch point, wherein the face probeis rotatably connected to the retaining arm, wherein the retaining armis connected to the clamp, and wherein the at least one gauge providesmeasurement information when the clamp is attached to a golf club shaftand the through hole is lined up with a center of a golf club face.

In a further embodiment, the measurement information is selected fromthe group consisting of loft angle, lie angle, face angle, and distance.In another embodiment, each side of the face probe has two touch points.In a further embodiment, the through hole is located between the twotouch points on each side of the face probe. In another embodiment, themeasurement device further comprises a spacer. In yet anotherembodiment, the measurement device further comprises a retaining tube,wherein the retaining tube connects the face probe with the retainingarm. In a further embodiment, the measurement device further comprises afirst gauge and a second gauge. In yet a further embodiment, the firstgauge is disposed between the face probe and the retaining tube, andsecond other gauge is disposed between the retaining tube and theretaining arm. In another embodiment, the clamp has two or more clampingmechanisms.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of measuring a golfclub, comprising locating a center of a face on the golf club, attachinga measurement device to a shaft of the golf club, aligning the center ofthe golf club face within a face probe portion of the measurementdevice, and recording measurement values provided by at least one gaugeon the measurement device. In a further embodiment, the measurementdevice comprises two or more gauges. In another embodiment, the methodfurther comprises marking a point on a toe portion of the golf club,aligning the face probe portion with the point and recording measurementvalues provided by the at least one gauge. In another embodiment, themeasurement values are selected from the group consisting of loft angle,lie angle, face angle, and distance.

Having briefly described the present invention, the above and furtherobjects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by thoseskilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description ofthe invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the face probe of the embodiment shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is another side view of the face probe of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the face probe and probe arm of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the retaining tube of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the tightening screws of the embodiment shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the clamp, retaining arm, and spacer of theembodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clamp, retaining arm, and spacershown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the circled connection between the tubepiece of the retaining tube and the probe arm shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the circled connection between theconnector piece of the retaining tube and the retaining arm shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1lined up with a representative golf club head.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart diagram of a process for using the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of measurement device 10 ofthe present invention. The measurement device 10 includes a face probe20, a probe arm 30, a retaining tube 40, a retaining arm 50, a spacer60, a clamp 70, two tightening bolts 80, 85, and two gauges 90, 95.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show close-up views of the face probe 20, which includes acentrally-located sighting hole 210, three arms 212, 214, 216, and astem 218. FIG. 3 shows that the stem 218 and one of the arms 214 includehorizontal touch points 220, 222 disposed across from one another withthe sighting hole 210 between them. FIG. 4 shows that two arms 212, 216include vertical touch points 230, 232 disposed across from one anotherwith the sighting hole 210 between them. FIG. 5 shows that the faceprobe 20 and probe arm 30 are formed as a unitary piece

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the probe arm 30 is threaded through theretaining tube 40, which connects the probe arm 30 to the retaining arm50. When tightening bolt 85 is loosened, the probe arm 30 can rotatewithin the retaining tube 40 and thus enable the face probe 20 to flipover to expose the side having horizontal touch points 220, 222 or theside having vertical touch points 230, 232. The probe arm 30 can alsomove in and out of the retaining tube 40 when tightening bolt 85 isloosened. Tightening the tightening bolt 85 will prevent the probe arm30 from rotating and moving in and out of the retaining tube 40, andwill fix the face probe 20 at a desired orientation with respect to therest of the measurement device 10. Tightening bolts 80, 85 are shown inmore detail in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 6, retaining tube 40 comprises a tube piece 42 and aconnector piece 44 that extends from the tube piece 42 at an acute angleα. Connector piece 44 is slid into the opening 55 of retaining arm 50,shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and tightening bolt 80 is fitted within bolthole 82 and tightened to retain connector piece 44 within retaining arm50 at a desired location. Loosening tightening bolt 80 allows theconnector piece 44 to slide in and out of retaining arm 50 and to rotatewithin retaining arm 50, which consequently allows tube piece 42 torotate. Rotation of tube piece 42 when the probe arm 30 is insertedwithin tube piece 42 causes the probe arm 30 (and therefore the faceprobe 20) to pivot towards or away from a golf club face.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, retaining arm 50 is preferably integrallyformed with a spacer 60, which helps to locate the face probe 20 infront of a golf club face. In alternative embodiments, the retaining arm50 and spacer 60 may be separate pieces that are connected through othermeans. FIGS. 8 and 9 also disclose clamp 70, which in the preferredembodiment includes two clamping mechanisms 72, 74 that are affixed tothe spacer 60 after retaining arm 50 and spacer 60 are integrallyformed. In alternative embodiments, the clamp 70 may comprise one ormore than two clamping mechanisms, and may be integrally formed with theretaining arm 50 and/or the spacer 60.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the gauges 90, 95 of the preferredembodiment. FIG. 10 shows gauge 90 where the probe arm 30 is inserted inthe tube piece 42 of the retaining tube 40. The probe arm 30 hasmarkings 100 on it that indicate, when the measuring device has beenused with a golf club head, the angle of the golf club face with respectto the golf club shaft and the distance of the center of the golf clubface from a shaft axis or other points on the golf club, for example.FIG. 11 shows the gauge 95 where the connector piece 44 of the retainingtube 40 is inserted through the opening 55 of the retaining arm 50 ofthe measuring device 10. The connector piece 44 also has markings 110 onit that indicate, when the measuring device has been used with a golfclub head, the angle of the golf club face with respect to the golf clubshaft and the distance of the center of the golf club face from a shaftaxis or other points on the golf club, for example. The gauges 90, 95may also measure additional or alternative features of the golf cluborientation.

FIG. 12 illustrates how the measuring device 10 is assembled withrespect to a golf club head 300. Clamp 70 and tightening screws 80, 85are omitted from this Figure for purposes of clarity. FIG. 12 shows thatspacer 60 is lined up with and flush against a golf club shaft 350. Theconnector piece 44 of retaining tube 40 is inserted into the opening 55in the retaining arm 50. Bolt hole 86 on the retaining arm 50 canreceive tightening bolt 85 to fix the connector piece 44 within theretaining arm 50. The unitary piece comprising the face probe 20 andprobe arm 30 is then inserted, probe arm 30 end first, into the tubepiece 42 of the retaining tube 40. Bolt hole 82 on the tube piece 42 canreceive tightening bolt 80 to fix the probe arm within the tube piece42.

The near-fully assembled measuring device 10 illustrated in FIG. 12 isthen adjusted to the golf club head 300 to take orientation and geometrymeasurements of the golf club head 300. FIG. 13 shows a process fortaking measurements using the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. First, a center 310 of the golf club face 320 is located andmarked. This marked center 310 represents a point from whichmeasurements will be taken using the measuring device 10.

The measurement device is then aligned with (and attached to, via theclamp 70) the golf club shaft as shown in FIG. 12. The face probe 20 isthen rotated, using the retaining tube 40, so that horizontal touchpoints 220, 222 are facing the club face 320. The face probe is then 20adjusted by moving the face arm 30 in or out of the retaining tube 40 sothat the face center 310 of the golf club face 320 is visible within thesighting hole 210 of the face probe 20 and the horizontal touch points220, 222 are both resting on the face 320 on opposite sides of thesighting hole 210. Tightening bolts 80, 85 (not shown) can be tightened,and then the angle and distance values visible on the gauges 90, 95 canbe recorded.

At this point, marks can be placed on the shaft 350, preferably wherethe clamps (not shown in FIG. 12) attach to the shaft 350, to indicatetest points for future analysis with, for example, a CMM. If tighteningbolts 80, 85 are used, they are then loosened and the face probe 20 isrotated or otherwise adjusted again so that vertical touch points 230,232 are facing and resting on the club face 320 as shown in FIG. 12 andthe center 310 of the club face 320 is located within the sighting hole210. Tightening bolts 80, 85 (not shown) can be tightened, and then theangle and distance values visible on the gauges 90, 95 can be recordedagain.

Once angle and distance values are measured, the tightening bolts 80, 85(if any) are loosened and the face probe 20 is adjusted by moving theprobe arm 30 through the retaining tube 40 such that one of the verticaltouch points 230, 232 touches a desired toe test point 330. At thispoint, angle and distance values visible from the gauges 90, 95 may berecorded again.

After the process outlined in FIG. 13 is completed, the values derivedfrom the measurement device 10 can be input into an impact monitorsoftware program or a CMM for further analysis.

The measurement device 10 disclosed herein can measure both loft andface angle at a defined standard of 56 degrees from the shaft axis.Alternative embodiments can measure loft, lie, and/or face angles atother angles from the shaft axis. It is portable and easy to use, andidentifies where on the club to place markers for use with an ImpactMonitor System. The measurement device 10 also provides the correctgeometry relationship between the face center, face plane, golf clubbody, and test markers on a golf club.

The measurement device 10 disclosed herein may be made from a variety ofmaterials known to those skilled in the art, including metals, plastics,and composites. The various pieces of the measurement device 10disclosed herein may be made integrally or separately and then connectedtogether using methods known to those skilled in the art. Themeasurement device 10 of the present invention may be used with any typeof golf club, and may also be used to measure other sports equipment.

From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinentart will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention andwill readily understand that while the present invention has beendescribed in association with a preferred embodiment thereof,modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which isintended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in thefollowing appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the inventionin which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined inthe following appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A golf club measurement device comprising a retaining arm, aface probe rotatably connected to the retaining arm, a first gauge, anda clamp, wherein the face probe has at least two sides and a throughhole, wherein each side of the face probe has at least one touch point,wherein the retaining arm is connected to the clamp, and wherein thefirst gauge provides measurement information when the clamp is attachedto a golf club shaft and the through hole is lined up with a center of agolf club face.
 2. The golf club measurement device of claim 1, whereinthe measurement information is selected from the group consisting ofloft angle, lie angle, face angle, and distance.
 3. The golf clubmeasurement device of claim 1, wherein each side of the face probe hastwo touch points.
 4. The golf club measurement device of claim 3,wherein the through hole is located between the two touch points on eachside of the face probe.
 5. The golf club measurement device of claim 1,wherein the at least one touch point is a protrusion.
 6. The golf clubmeasurement device of claim 1, further comprising a spacer.
 7. The golfclub measurement device of claim 6, wherein the retaining arm isconnected to the spacer.
 8. The golf club measurement device of claim 7,wherein the retaining arm is integrally formed with the spacer.
 9. Thegolf club measurement device of claim 1, wherein the retaining arm isintegrally formed with the clamp.
 10. The golf club measurement deviceof claim 1, further comprising a retaining tube, wherein the retainingtube connects the face probe with the retaining arm.
 11. The golf clubmeasurement device of claim 10, further comprising a second gauge. 12.The golf club measurement device of claim 11, wherein the first gauge isdisposed between the face probe and the retaining tube, and the secondgauge is disposed between the retaining tube and the retaining arm. 13.The golf club measurement device of claim 10, further comprising a firsttightening bolt, wherein the first tightening bolt fixes the face probeto the retaining tube.
 14. The golf club measurement device of claim 13,further comprising a second tightening bolt, wherein the secondtightening bolt fixes the retaining tube to the retaining arm.
 15. Thegolf club measurement device of claim 1, wherein the clamp comprises twoor more clamping mechanisms.
 16. A method of measuring a golf club,comprising: locating a center of a face on the golf club; attaching thegolf club measurement device of claim 1 to a shaft of the golf club;aligning the center of the golf club face within the face probe portionof the measurement device; and recording measurement values provided bythe first gauge on the golf club measurement device.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the golf club measurement device comprises two or moregauges.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: marking a pointon a toe portion of the golf club; aligning the face probe portion withthe point and recording measurement values provided by the first gauge.19. The method of claim 16, wherein the measurement values are selectedfrom the group consisting of loft angle, lie angle, face angle, anddistance.